Summary

Part I: Saigon – It is the Vietnamese New Year, February 11, Tet 1975, the Year of the Cat. Ten year-old Saigon-native Ha (named “Kim-Ha” after the Golden River, Kim Ha) and her family, celebrate. Ha’s mother explains how each person behaves this day will foretell the entire year. Ha is jealous since only men can rise first in order to bring luck to the house. Ha secretly wakes early just to tap her foot before anyone else is up.

The family does its best to be joyful, despite soldiers in the streets and the war growing closer. The I Ching Teller of Fate tells Ha’s mother it will be a bad year for them. Since the Americans have left South Vietnam, the Communists have gotten closer and closer to Saigon. Ha discusses all of this in Miss Xinh’s class at school during...